Kings Select Kopitar In First Round Of 2005 NHL Entry Draft
July 30, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
OTTAWA/MANCHESTER - Slovenian center Anze Kopitar was the first player selected by the Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, (first round, 11th overall) in today's NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa. Kopitar was ranked sixth overall by both The Hockey News and Red Line Report. Central Scouting had him rated as the number one European skater.
Kopitar, 17, played in 30 games this past season with Sodertalje of the Swedish Junior League recording 49 points (28-21=49) and 26 penalty minutes. He finished the season with a plus/minus rating of +29. In addition, he appeared in five games with Sodertalje in the Swedish Men's League. Kopitar also represented Slovenia at the 2005 World Junior Under-18 Championships appearing in five games and recording 11 points (6-5=11) and 14 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound center skated in six games at the 2005 World Championships for Slovenia registering a goal (1-0=1) and two penalty minutes.
"We are looking at a potential home run here to have Anze Kopitar fall to 11," said Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor from the club's draft table at the Westin Ottawa. "We had him rated very high. Certainly, if you look at his skill package with the size and the hands, he has a tremendous amount of upside."
Forward Dany Roussin, 20, was the next selection by the Kings (second round, 50th overall) today. In 69 games last season with the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from Quebec City recorded 116 points (54-62=116) and 66 penalty minutes. Roussin re-entered the Entry Draft after failing to come to terms on a contract with the Florida Panthers who originally drafted him in the seventh-round (223rd overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
"Dany is an older kid who was Sidney Crosby's winger all year and put up huge numbers," said Kings Director of Amateur Scouting Al Murray. "He is a good skater with good size and excellent finishing skills."
Defenseman T.J. Fast, 17, was also selected by the Kings (second round, 60th overall) using the conditional draft choice that was awarded to the Kings for center David Steckel becoming an unrestricted free agent. Fast, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound native of Calgary appeared in 58 games for Camrose of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and recorded 36 points (8-28=36) and 40 penalty minutes. He will be attending the University of Denver this season. The Kings rounded out their draft by taking 6-foot, 180-pound goaltender Jon Quick (third round, 72nd overall) from Avon Old (USHSE); 6-foot-3, 205-pound defenseman Patrik Hersley (fifth round, 131st overall) from Malmo (Sweden); 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman Ryan McGinnis (sixth-round, 184th overall) from Plymouth (OHL); 6-foot-3, 180-pound defenseman Josh Meyers (seventh-round, 206th overall) from Sioux-City (USHL) and 6-foot-3, 175-pound center John Seymour (seventh-round, 226th overall).
"We are very pleased overall with today's draft," said Taylor. "We added a good deal of talent and a nice mixture with three forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. We are especially excited about landing Anze Kopitar in the first round, as we really like his potential."
Are you a resident in Monarchs Country? Season tickets for the Monarchs fifth anniversary season are on sale now. Visit www.monarchshockey.com or call (603) 626-7825 for more information on the team's Full-Season, Half-Season and 10-Game ticket packages.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from July 30, 2005
- Kings Select Kopitar In First Round Of 2005 NHL Entry Draft - Manchester Monarchs
- Kings Sign Forward Flinn To One-Year Deal - Manchester Monarchs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
